05-05-26 Planning Board Meeting

The City of Boulder Planning Board held a meeting on May 5, 2026, focusing primarily on two key agenda items: proposed changes to the land use code to accommodate large special festival events such as the Sundance Film Festival, and a concept plan review for the redevelopment of the Unity Church property at 2855 Folsom Avenue. The board recommended that City Council adopt the proposed code changes to create a new land use category for special festival events, including updated permitting and signage regulations to manage impacts on public health, safety, and welfare. The board also discussed the Unity Church redevelopment proposal involving 21 detached dwelling units, addressing site design, zoning consistency, open space requirements, and transportation access. Board members expressed concerns about housing diversity, unit sizes, and compatibility with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, suggesting potential future code updates to better support medium-density and affordable housing. The meeting concluded with planning for an upcoming board retreat to prioritize topics including post-Comprehensive Plan code changes, floodplain regulations, and water adequacy for development.